Comments:
Howard B. Anderson was an ambitious salesman with great talents in leadership and human relations. As a new college graduate, he had set a goal for himself on the cumulative amount of money he wanted to earn in his life time. He advanced rapidly in sales and marketing with a number of firms and finally landed a high-salaried job as director of marketing for 20th Century Fox Television. He was 28 or 29 at the time. This position was in New York City. President Anderson resided in the Scarsdale, New York Ward.
At the age of 30, President Anderson reached his goal on cumulative earnings for life. Being married to President David O. McKay's granddaughter was probably the link for the Church to know about this very righteous, talented, and incredidibly successful young man. Howard B. Anderson was called to preside over the California Mission at the age of 31!
President Anderson loved fine cars and brought with him to the mission field his beloved gold-colored Lincoln. Missionaries referred to it as "the golden calf."
President Anderson was big on techniques of sales and marketing. He retained the donated services of Al Tomsik (LDS and one of the nation's greatest motivational speakers and sales trainers at the time) to tutor missionaries in mission conferences on effective door approaches. Tomsik's motto was "agree, smile and keep asking them questions." For example, "I am a Catholic and am not interested." A Tomsik-recommended reply: "I can certainly understand why you are not interested. The Catholic religion is a wonderful religion. But may I ask you a question?" "Okay." "If we could bring additional happiness into your life with our message, wouldn't you want to hear it?" "No." "Well, I understand how you feel. I'd feel the same way if someone came to my door. But, may I ask you a question?" etc. etc. Tomsik door approaches became a way of life in the California Mission and baptisms went up.
President Anderson was so young and young looking that members frequently thought he was one of the elders. More than once members who were helping host a mission conference or providing meals at a zone meeting the President attended would come up to the President and say, "Elder, where are you from?"
After serving as mission president, Howard B. Anderson worked for the Howard Hughes empire and ultimately found himself managing a casino in Las Vegas--much against his wishes. (It was a last-minute emergency transter by his employer.) Shortly thereafter, he resigned from the Hughes organization (actually called the Summa Corporation), moved back to the Westwood area of L.A., bought a radio station, and was called as Bishop of the Westwood Ward. A few years later he became a regional representative.
Howard B. Anderson was a great mission leader and a priesthood man who always served with great faithfulness in any Church position.
Stephen Hays Russell
Missionary in the California Mission, Feb 1963 - Feb 1965
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